By Yakov Nayerman
SAN DIEGO — I’m confused. The stated goal of the current campaign against Iran is simple: “No nuclear weapons for Iran.” That’s it? So, once Iran’s nuclear program is interrupted or delayed, the problem is considered solved?
But the issue runs much deeper.
The ideologues of Iran’s Islamic Revolution believe that the return of the Mahdi is tied to Israel’s destruction. The Mahdi, in Shia Islam, is a messianic figure—roughly comparable to the Messiah in Jewish and Christian traditions. According to belief, he disappeared in the 9th century and will return at the end of time to bring justice and defeat evil.
However, many of these clerics teach that the Mahdi’s return cannot happen while Muslim holy lands—including Jerusalem—remain under what they call “Zionist control.” For them, the struggle against Israel is not political. It’s a sacred duty. Preparing the world for the Mahdi means eliminating Israel.
Which means they will pursue this “holy mission” with or without an atomic bomb.
Imagine a would-be assassin who openly declares his plan to murder your family. First, he tries to get a gun. You manage to take the gun away. But the threat doesn’t disappear. He continues with knives, poison, an axe—whatever he can find. Would you let your family live under that danger forever, protected by 24/7 bodyguards? Of course not. You’d demand that this person be imprisoned—for as long as he remains a threat.
After World War II, Germany was explicitly banned from promoting Nazi ideology. That ban wasn’t just symbolic. Germany still enforces strict laws against hate speech, Holocaust denial, and Nazi propaganda—online and offline.
The same principle must apply today.
According to Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state is strictly prohibited. A regime that openly and repeatedly declares its intent to destroy another UN member—like Iran does with Israel—is not just breaking the rules. It is openly rejecting the very idea of international law.
What the international community—and Israel—should demand from Iran is not only a halt to its nuclear weapons program. They must also demand a ban on the propaganda that promotes such threats. The same should be expected from any nation.
Not more. But certainly nothing less.
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Yakov Nayerman is a freelance writer based in San Diego.
Yasha Nayerman, thank you for writing this article. Hope more Americans will read it in order to understand that Israel and America are fighting much necessary fight. Yesterday in San Diego we had a demonstration of unity: Israeli, Iranians, Americans from different backgrounds expressed solidarity and thanks to Israel and America for the fight against aytollah regime, for a peaceful future for the World.
Thank you very much!
Thank you very much, Ella! You are doing incredibly important work by uniting people of different nationalities under one banner. I’m trying to make my small contribution through my writing. Am Yisrael Chai!
Yakov.